Emery County School District

Policy: IKF - Graduation Requirements

Date Adopted: 6 April 1988

Current Review / Revision: 31 March 2021

Diplomas and Completion Certificates

Diplomas and completion certificates shall be awarded to students who have satisfied all requirements of the Emery County School District and the Utah State Board of Education as outlined in policy and in Utah State Board of Education Rule R277-705, including requirements related to the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test.

Credits Toward High School Graduation

Students may earn credit by any of the following methods:

1. successful completion of approved secondary school courses;

2. successful completion of concurrent enrollment classes consistent with Utah State Board Rule R277-713;

3. demonstrated competency, as determined by district or school assessment and standards;

4. demonstrated competency as determined by review of student work or projects consistent with school procedures and criteria;

5. successful completion of correspondence or electronic coursework offered by accredited education institutions;

6. successful completion of coursework from supplemental education service providers accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission or approved by the State Board of Education.

Secondary schools shall accept credit from secondary schools, supplemental education service providers, and distance learning schools accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission or approved by the State Board of Education without alteration. (See Utah State Board of Education Rule R277-705 for definitions). Credits accepted shall be recognized as original credit earned for specific courses, including Core courses.

Secondary schools may accept credits from non-accredited supplemental education service providers and other credit sources with written approval from the student's principal or designee prior to program enrollment. Credits earned from non-accredited supplemental education providers or other credit sources:

1. shall be aligned with the State Core Curriculum;

2. shall have course content that matches the Core course requirements; and

3. shall have end of course tests that meet or exceed school district assessments.

Each secondary school shall have a review process for acceptance and reciprocity of credits earned by students through competency and non-accredited supplemental education service providers and other credit sources. School review processes may require timelines to receive adequate and timely documentation of authenticity for credits and grades submitted.

Each secondary school shall include in their handbooks notification to parents and students concerning this policy and the process the school will employ for review of credit.

Subjects to be required of every student in grades 9-12:

1.  Secondary Math I, II, and III or higher and math courses selected from the approved State Board list of approved courses.

2.  Two credits from: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or Computer Science.  Additionally, one credit from the State approved foundations courses or the applied or advanced science core list.

3.  One credit US History, .5 credit Geography, .5 credit Civilizations, .5 credit US Government & Citizenship, .5 credit Psychology, Sociology, AP Work, World History Modern, or World History Ancient. 

4.  Required .5 credit Health, Required .5 credit Fitness for Life, .5 credit Participation Skills, .5 credit Individualized Lifetime Activities.  A maximum of 1 credit can be earned from Team Sport or Athletic participation (.25 credits per sport season). 

5.  Any state approved Career and Technical Education course will fulfill this requirement.

6.  Qualifying courses are Business Office Specialist, Computer Science Principles, Computer Programming 1, Digital Business Application, Web Development 1, or Exploring Computer Science. 

* Elective credits provide a means for specialization related to interest and post-secondary goals.

** Demonstrated Competency - District and/or state issued assessment and/or other process used to determind subject knowledge and core standard proficiency. 

Students with disabilities served by special education programs may have changes made to graduation requirements through individual IEPs to meet the unique educational needs. A student's IEP shall document the nature and extent of modification, substitutions or exemptions made to accommodate a student with disabilities.

Graduation requirements may be modified for individual students to achieve an appropriate route to student success when such modifications: 1) are consistent with the student's IEP or CCR or both; 2) are maintained in the student's file and include the parent's signature; and 3) maintain the integrity and rigor expected for high school graduation, as determined by the State Board of Education.